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Blackhawks Convention. No thanks.
Posted on August 6, 2010

Last weekend the Blackhawks held their annual fan convention at the Chicago Hilton and Towers. In the three (or has it been four?) years that the team has sponsored this event, I haven't attended once. And each year when the fan reviews come out, I'm reminded as to why that is.

I recently did a non-Convention related Google search wondering when McEgo will put individual tickets, with the annual 30% price increase, on sale only to come across a Ticketmaster page with fans talking about last weekend's event. There were countless pages of reviews, let's just look at the first four or five.

Very disappointed was not what I expected at all. The lines were ridiculously long most lines were at least a 2 hour wait. Only 315 fans were guaranteed a big name player autograph if you won a scratch off ticket.

Also disappointed to catch my favorite player in the hall way to try to get an autoraph and he says " I already signed my autographs" and walks through another door.

The convention was anything but WORTH IT. The Blackhawks successfully alienated and disappointed a great number of NEW fans and OLD fans from ever wanting to attend another convention

Seems like this event has slowly gone down hill. I did not like their new wristband policy for getting autographs nor the lines that would form for the various Q/A sessions. I especially did not like the shutting off the doors to the ballrooms when sessions were "full". It also seemed as if this event was over-sold.

There was approx. 1000 people downstairs in line to get wristbands to get an autograph from 3 players. They clearly overbooked the convention making it impossible to attend the activities that were offered. We spent $335 for 5 people ($55 plus fees) and got nothing out of it. We are season ticket holders and were very disgusted.

Let me mention you need to wait an hour + in line for a WRISTBAND, that basically allows you to wait a few more hours in ANOTHER line... for an autograph of a lower key player. NOW, if and can afford to stay in the $230 a night hotel... You then get an opportunity to get Kanes, Toews, Keiths, Seabrooks, and Sharp's (to name a few).

Locals are Fans too!!!! Disappointed the entire convention was set up with perks for hotel guest, they got the top players signature and galas.

The story writes itself. These negative reviews dominate the first 10 pages of fan comments. After the tenth page, I pretty much got the picture. You can clearly feel not only the disappointment, but almost a sense of hatred in their words.

To be fair, there were also a lot of positive reviews. After all, the team just won the Stanley Cup, many (but not all) of the players were there, past Blackhawk stars made appearances, the singing of the National Anthem, and well that's about it, I guess.

Maybe I'm simply clueless as to what should happen at a fan convention such as this. But each year it sure seems as if McEgo and company continually put the almighty dollar ahead of what's truly important: the actual fan who spends that dollar.

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